A €66,000 son of the in demand Blue Bresil headed the penultimate session of the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale and, for the second day in succession, the sale was able to better the returns of 12 months ago.

The corresponding day was a very quiet one last year and the gains recorded were off a low base while a clearance rate of 61% points to a market that is undeniably selective. However, there was no shortage of interest in the better foals that come under the hammer over the course of the day and this pushed the turnover to just under €1.6 million, which was close to triple last year’s figure. The average of €11,709 was up by 43% while the median progressed from €5,000 to €8,500.

The session topper, who was consigned by Ballinaclasha Stables, was bought by Norman Williamson, who was standing with Charlie Swan, and the colt hails from a family that the former jockeys are quite familiar with from their days in the saddle.

“We thought he is the best foal here today,” stated Williamson. "Obviously the sire is on fire, and it is hard to buy one by him. We know the family well as both Charlie and I rode Belvederian, who is a half-brother to this colt’s grandam. We thought this foal has great action and bags of quality.”

Timmy Hillman came close to matching this price when he spent €64,000 on a Vadamos colt from Pat Connell’s Peria Stud. This colt is out of a mare, Dont Hesitate, who isn’t catalogued as a blacktype winner although she did land a Grade 3 AQPS race during her time in France. In addition this sale represented a fine return for Connell who picked up the mare for €13,500 at this sale two years ago.

“He’s a lovely colt and is the second one by the sire that we’ve bought this week,” reported Hillman. “The dam was very smart in France and he is just a very nice first foal who had a lot going for him. It will be the usual route with him and hopefully he’ll be lucky when he comes back here as a three-year-old.”

Hillman’s other spending for the dam came when he spent €35,000 on a son of Gentlewave. This colt is out of a Grade 2-placed six-times winner and he shares his sire with a yearling whom Hillman bought for €37,000 on the opening day of the sale.

Old Persian foals

This week has played host to the first crop of foals produced by the dual Group 1 winner Old Persian and he was responsible for a fine colt from Ballincurrig House Stud who cost Gerry Hogan €47,000.

“This colt is bought for an existing client as a racing prospect. I like the stallion, he is a lovely Dubawi horse and he has had some lovely foals here this week,” stated Hogan.

At the outset of the day Matt Coleman gave €40,000 for an Affinisea half-brother to the Cheltenham Festival winner The Shunter.

“He is for a client in the UK to race. We thought we'd buy a few foals and we might get a bit more value than waiting to buy store horses,” stated Coleman. “This foal looks fairly precocious and racy and he is a good mover. I like the stock by Affinisea, they are not over-big but have a good attitude and have plenty of Sea The Stars about them.”

Peter Molony secured a Vadamos half-brother to the Cheltenham winner Telmesomethinggirl for €36,000 and he also spent €30,000 on a daughter of Order Of St George.

The noted pinhookers John and Niall Bleahen spent €37,000 on an Order Of St George colt while Tony O’Callaghan matched this price for a Fascinating Rock colt out of the listed-placed Flementime.

The sale concludes on Thursday.

COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR DAY FIVE

YEAR CAT OFF SOLD AGGREGATE AVERAGE MEDIAN

2022 260 222 136 €1,592,450 €11,709 €8,500

2021 199 152 76 €621,150 €8,173 €5,000